The Psychology of Risk Taking BehaviorElsevier, 1994 M04 28 - 416 pages This book aims to help the reader to understand what motivates people to engage in risk taking behavior, such as participating in traffic, sports, financial investments, or courtship. The consequences of risk taking may be positive, or result in accidents and injuries, especially in traffic. The wealth of studies and theories (about 1000 references) is used to offer a cohesive, holistic view of risk motivation. The risk motivation theory is a dynamic state-trait model incorporating physiological, emotional and cognitive components of risk perception, processing and planning. If a deficit exists between desired and perceived risk, risk compensation behavior results. A feedback loop provides new information for the next perception-motivation-behavior process. Assumptions were tested and support was found with 120 subjects in a longitudinal study. The concepts and findings are discussed in relation to psychological theories and their meaning for our daily lives. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 15 | |
Chapter 3 Who Engages In Risk Taking Behavior ? | 27 |
Chapter 4 Which Situational Factors Influence Risk Taking Behavior ? | 113 |
Chapter 5 How Is Risk Taking Motivated and Emotionally Experienced? | 129 |
Chapter 6 What Controls Risk Taking Behavior ? | 161 |
Chapter 7 What Are the Consequences of Risk Taking Behavior ? | 181 |
Chapter 8 How Do We Adapt to the Desire for and the Control of Risk Taking Behavior ? | 211 |
Chapter 9 How Can We Explain Risk Taking Behavior Holistically ? | 233 |
Chapter 10 What Does Risk Motivation Mean for Our Daily Lives as Researchers and as Normal Risk Takers ? | 279 |
References | 297 |
| 361 | |
| 377 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Accident Analysis accident proneness action Analysis and Prevention Apter argued assumption biological Buss changes cognitive compensation components concept correlations danger decision desire drivers effects emotional experiences environment evolutionary Eysenck factors Fischhoff Furthermore genetic higher human illusion of control increased individual differences influence injuries intrinsic motivation Journal of Personality level of arousal level of risk limbic system locus of control nervous system opponent process optimal level outcome paratelic patterns perceived control performance personal control Personality and Social physical postulated predicted probability of penalty prospect theory psychoticism reaction reduce relation reported response reversal theory risk avoiding risk compensation risk homeostasis theory risk motivation theory risk perception risk seeking risk taking behavior risky safety seekers sensation seeking showed situations skill Slovic Social Psychology Stallen stimuli strategy stress studies subjects take risks target level task telic tion traffic Trimpop uncertainty utility theories variables Wilde Zuckerman